Convertible container assembly

ABSTRACT

A convertible container assembly is provided having an upper member and a lower member. The upper member has a first plurality of attachment portions at an upper member perimeter. The lower member is convertible such that the lower member is substantially planar in a first configuration and substantially parallelepipedous in a second configuration. The lower member includes a second plurality of attachment portions at a lower member perimeter. The first plurality of attachment portions at the upper member perimeter is configured to attach to the second plurality of attachment portions at the lower member perimeter.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/176,494 filed Feb. 20, 2015, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a convertible container assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Workers and craftsmen in various trades and industries, as well as any other user of tools and similar objects, store and carry tools and other objects to and around a worksite in order to accomplish tasks. As one example, a craftsman in the vehicle wrap industry has several tools that should be conveniently accessible at a worksite. The craftsman must then transport the tools to a new location. If, to accomplish a task, a craftsman is required to store and carry additional items, such as a tool belt, carrying case, or surface mounting device the additional items add bulk and weight. Because a typical craftsman must frequently store and access tools and other items, and transport the items to a new location, energy, time, and productivity are wasted with the bulk and weight of additional tools and items.

Further, space constraints surrounding the work site, surface, or particular space in which a worker must work often require the worker to sit or kneel, or maintain themselves in a position that is stressful to the knees, back, shoulders, or other portions of the body to accomplish a required task.

Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a container assembly that allows improved object accessing, storing, and transporting to improve the efficiency of accomplishing tasks that require the use of tools and other objects. Further, there exists a need in the art for a container assembly that supports a person and increases comfort for a person accomplishing a task.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance with a first embodiment of present disclosure, a convertible container assembly is provided comprising an upper member having a first plurality of attachment portions at an upper member perimeter, and a lower member being convertible such that the lower member is substantially planar in a first configuration and substantially parallelepipedous in a second configuration, the lower member including a second plurality of attachment portions at a lower member perimeter, wherein the first plurality of attachment portions at the upper member perimeter is configured to attach to the second plurality of attachment portions at the lower member perimeter.

The lower member may include a pad portion configured to support a user when the lower member is in the first configuration. The upper member may include a first side having an object securing member configured to secure one or more objects. The upper member may further include a second side having a coupling member configured to couple the upper member to a surface to allow access to the first side. The coupling member may include a magnetic coupling member configured to couple the upper member to a ferromagnetic surface. The lower member may include a plurality of folding portions having a plurality of overlapping portions, each of the plurality of overlapping portions having at least one overlapping portion attachment member securing the plurality of overlapping portions against the plurality of folding portions such that an internal cavity is defined by the plurality of folding portions when the lower member is in the second configuration. The first plurality of attachment portions may form a substantially continuous first attachment line around substantially the entire upper member perimeter, and the second plurality of attachment portions may form a substantially continuous second attachment line to attach to the first attachment line when the lower member is in the second configuration.

In accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure, a convertible container assembly is provided comprising a holder member having a first side configured to secure one or more objects and a second side having a coupling member configured to couple the holder member to a surface to allow access to the first side, and a pad member being substantially planar and having a plurality of folding portions, wherein the holder member is configured to attach to the pad member to form a substantially parallelepipedous shape upon folding of the folding portions.

The holder member may include a first plurality of attachment portions at a holder member perimeter. The pad member may include a second plurality of attachment portions at a pad member perimeter when the pad member forms a substantially parallelepipedous shape upon folding of the folding portions, wherein the first plurality of attachment portions at the holder member perimeter is configured to attach to the second plurality of attachment portions at the pad member perimeter when the pad member forms a substantially parallelepipedous shape upon folding of the folding portions. The first plurality of attachment portions may form a substantially continuous first attachment line around substantially the entire holder member perimeter, and the second plurality of attachment portions forms a substantially continuous second attachment line to attach to the first attachment line when the pad member forms a substantially parallelepipedous shape upon folding of the folding portions. The coupling member may include a magnetic coupling member configured to couple the holder member to a ferromagnetic surface. The plurality of folding portions may include a plurality of overlapping portions, each of the plurality of overlapping portions having at least one overlapping portion attachment member securing the plurality of overlapping portions against the plurality of folding portions such that an internal cavity is defined by the plurality of folding portions when the pad member forms the substantially parallelepipedous shape upon folding of the folding portions.

In accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure, a convertible container assembly is provided comprising an upper member having a first plurality of attachment portions at an upper member perimeter, and a lower member including a substantially planar central portion and a plurality of outer portions disposed around the central portion, wherein the lower member is convertible from a first configuration wherein the central portion and the plurality of outer portions are both substantially planar, to a second configuration wherein the central portion remains substantially planar and the plurality of outer portions are substantially orthogonal to the central portion to define a lower member internal cavity, the plurality of outer portions further including a second plurality of attachment portions, wherein the first plurality of attachment portions at the upper member perimeter is configured to attach to the second plurality of attachment portions at the plurality of outer portions.

The lower member may include a pad portion configured to support a user when the lower member is in the first configuration. A first side of the upper member may include an object securing member configured to secure one or more objects. A second side of the upper member may include a coupling member configured to couple the upper member to a surface to allow access to the first side. The coupling member may include a magnetic coupling member configured to couple the upper member to a ferromagnetic surface. The lower member may include a plurality of folding portions having a plurality of overlapping portions, each of the plurality of overlapping portions having at least one overlapping portion attachment member securing the plurality of overlapping portions against the plurality of folding portions to define the lower member internal cavity. The first plurality of attachment portions may form a substantially continuous first attachment line around substantially the entire upper member perimeter, and the second plurality of attachment portions forms a substantially continuous second attachment line to attach to the first attachment line when the lower member is in the second configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bottom surface of a lower member of a container assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a top surface of a lower member of a container assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a container assembly with an open upper member in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an upper member of a container assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a container assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 7-22 are perspective views of a container assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with the foregoing summary, the following is a detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, which are considered to be the best modes thereof. The methods and systems herein described are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustrates a convertible container assembly 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The container assembly 10 includes an upper member 12 and a lower member 14. The upper member 12 includes a first plurality of attachment portions 18 at an upper member perimeter 20, as further described below. The lower member 14 includes a second plurality of attachment portions 22 at a lower member perimeter 24, also further described below. The first plurality of attachment portions 18 at the upper member perimeter 20 attaches to the second plurality of attachment portions 22 at the lower member perimeter 24 to form the container assembly 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. In an embodiment, one or more straps 16 are attached to the upper member 12 and/or the lower member 14 to support the container assembly 10 and/or to improve carrying of the container assembly 10. In an embodiment not illustrated, the container assembly 10 does not include the straps 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 with continuing reference to FIG. 1, the lower member 14 of the container assembly 10 is convertible from a substantially planar configuration to a substantially parallelepipedous configuration. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the lower member 14 of the container assembly 10 in a first configuration 26, while FIG. 1 illustrates the lower member 14 being in a second configuration 28. When in the first configuration 26 of FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower member 14 is substantially planar. FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom surface 80 of the lower member 14, and FIG. 3 illustrates a top surface 82 of the lower member 14.

Referring again to FIG. 1, when the lower member 14 is in the second configuration 28, the lower member 14 assumes a substantially parallelepipedous shape. In one or more embodiments, the lower member 14 assumes a box or a substantially cubic shape, a triangular, pentagonal, or hexagonal prism shape, or a cylindrical form in the second configuration 28. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many three-dimensional structures may be formed using folding or bendable portions of the lower member 14, and such structures are included in the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower member 14 includes a central portion 30 and a plurality of outer portions 32 disposed around the central portion 30. When the lower member 14 converts from the first configuration 26 to the second configuration 28, the plurality of outer portions 32 are reoriented such that each of the plurality of outer portions 32 is substantially orthogonal to the central portion 30 to define a lower member internal cavity 34, as illustrated in FIG. 4 and described in further detail below. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a plurality of fasteners 84 couple together at each corner 86 of the lower member 14 to assist in forming the second configuration 28 of the container assembly 10. The fasteners 84 in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 are hook and loop fasteners, but snaps, clasps, magnets, zippers, adhesives, and any other fastener or coupling methods or structures that one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize are included in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure to supplement or replace the fasteners 84 described herein.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the bottom surface 80 of the lower member 14 includes three of the attachment portions 22 in an embodiment, while one of the attachment portions 22 at a front side 98 of the lower member 14 is disposed on the top surface 82 of the lower member 14, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The four attachment portions 22 cooperate and attach to the four attachment portions 18 at the upper member perimeter 20 to form the container assembly 10. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize the various combinations of attachment portion configurations on the surfaces 80, 82 to allow the lower member 14 to couple to the upper member 12, and such combinations or configurations are included in additional embodiments of the present disclosure.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the lower member 14 includes a plurality of folding portions 36 having a plurality of overlapping portions 38. Each of the plurality of overlapping portions 38 includes at least one overlapping portion attachment member 40, as best illustrated in FIG. 3. The overlapping portion attachment member 40 in the embodiments illustrated are hook and loop fasteners, but snaps, clasps, magnets, zippers, adhesives, or any other fastener or coupling methods or structures that one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize are included in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure to supplement or replace attachment members 40 described herein. The overlapping portion attachment member 40 secures the overlapping portion 38 against an interior surface 90 of one or more of the folding portions 36, such as shown in FIG. 4. The internal cavity 34 in one embodiment is at least partially defined by the plurality of folding portions 36 when the lower member 14 is in the second configuration 28. In one or more embodiments, one or more loops, pockets or other holding structures (not shown) are disposed on one or more outside surfaces of the lower member 14 when in the second configuration 28.

Referring again to the embodiment of FIG. 4, the upper member 12 includes the first plurality of attachment portions 18 at the upper member perimeter 20, and the lower member 14 includes the second plurality of attachment portions 22 at the lower member perimeter 24. The first plurality of attachment portions 18 at the upper member perimeter 20 attaches to the second plurality of attachment portions 22 at the lower member perimeter 24 to form the container assembly 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. In an embodiment, the lower member 14 includes one or more upper member fasteners 96, as illustrated in FIG. 4, to assist in coupling the lower member 14 to the upper member 12.

FIG. 5 illustrates the upper member 12 of one embodiment. The upper member 12 of FIG. 5 includes a holder member 46 having a first side 48 with an object securing member 60 configured to secure one or more objects 92. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, object securing members 60 are loops and/or pockets made from elastic materials to secure objects 92 for ease of placement and access. One or more mesh pockets (with or without closures), fabric pockets or loops, hooks, clips, snaps, clasps, magnets, zippers, adhesives, or any other fastening, holding, or coupling methods or structures that one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize are included in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure to supplement or replace the object securing member 60 described herein. The objects 92 may include such non-limiting examples as a hand tool, tape measure, knife, scissors, squeegee, level, screw driver, wrench, hammer, razor, and nails and other fasteners or supplies.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the first plurality of attachment portions 18 forms a substantially continuous first attachment line 42 around substantially the entire upper member perimeter 20. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the second plurality of attachment portions 22 forms a substantially continuous second attachment line 44 to be attached to the first attachment line 42 when the lower member 14 is in the second configuration 28. The attachment portions 18, 22 in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2-4 are hook and loop fasteners, but snaps, clasps, magnets, zippers, adhesives, and any other fastener or coupling methods or structures that one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize are included in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure to supplement or replace the attachment portions 18, 22 described herein.

The holder member 46 or upper member 12 includes an opening 94 to allow access to the contents of the container assembly 10 in one embodiment of the present disclosure, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5. In an embodiment, the opening 94 may include a zipper, but snaps, clasps, magnets, adhesives, or any other fastener, closure, and coupling methods or structures that one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize are included in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure to supplement or replace the zipper described herein.

With reference to FIG. 6, the lower member 14 includes a pad member, cushion member, or pad portion 56 in an embodiment that is configured to support a user 58 when the lower member 14 is in the first configuration 26. The holder member 46 of an embodiment includes a second side 50, shown in FIG. 1, having a coupling member 52 configured to couple the upper member 12 or holder member 46 to a surface 54 to allow access to the first side 48, as shown in FIG. 6. The coupling member 52 includes a magnetic coupling member 62 in one embodiment that is configured to couple the upper member 12 to a ferromagnetic surface 64. However, snaps, clasps, magnets, zippers, adhesives, and any other fastener or coupling methods or structures that one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize are included in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure to supplement or replace the coupling member 52 described herein. In one embodiment, the coupling member 52 includes two rare earth magnets embedded in the upper member 12.

The pad portion 56 provides physical comfort for a person by compressing or otherwise deforming to relieve stress on the person working in various constrained spaces. In embodiment, the pad portion 56 includes a resilient member embedded inside the lower member 14, including such non-limiting examples as a foam or rubber pad sewn into the lower member 14. In an embodiment, the pad portion 56 is included in the central portion 30 only. In an embodiment, the pad portion 56 is included in one or more of the overlapping portions 38. In an embodiment, the pad portion 56 is included in one or more of the outer portions 32 only. In an embodiment, the pad portion 56 is included in both the central portion 30 and the outer portions 32. In an embodiment, the pad portion 56 is included in the central portion 30, the outer portions 32, and the overlapping portions 38. As one non-limiting example, the person may kneel on the pad portion 56, causing the pad portion 56 to deform and distribute the concentrated pressure at a point on the knee across a larger area of the knee or leg. This allows the person to work longer and more comfortably with less injury or distraction while accomplishing the task. Additionally, the pad portion 56 protects the contents of the container assembly 10 when objects are disposed in the cavity 34 when the container assembly 10 is in the second configuration 28, or disposed on the lower member 14 when the container assembly 10 is in the first configuration 26.

In one embodiment, a user 58 places one or more objects, such as tools, in the interior cavity 34 of the container assembly 10 when the container assembly 10 is in the second configuration 28. The user 58 then transports the container assembly 10 to a worksite location 100. The user 58 then separates the upper member 12 from the lower member 14 in one embodiment to access the objects in the interior cavity 34. In another embodiment, the user 58 accesses the objects through the opening 94 without separating the upper member 12 from the lower member 14. In an embodiment, the user 58 positions the upper member 12 on the surface 54 in an embodiment to allow access to the first side 48. The user 58 converts the lower member 14 from the second configuration 28 to the first configuration 26. The user 58 then positions the lower member 14 on the floor, ground, or other surface below the user 58 to provide support for the user 58. When the user 58 wishes to move to another location, the user 58 converts the lower member 14 from the first configuration 26 to the second configuration 28 and places the objects or tools into the interior cavity 34. The user 58 removes the upper member 12 from the surface 54 in an embodiment. The user 58 then attaches the upper member 12 to the lower member 14 or otherwise closes the container assembly 10 and transports the container assembly 10 to another location.

The container assembly 10 of the present disclosure allows improved object accessing, storing, and transporting to improve the efficiency of accomplishing any task that requires the transportation and use of tools or other objects. Further, as described above, the container assembly 10 supports the user 58 and increases comfort for the user 58 while he or she accomplishes a task.

The upper member 12 and lower member 14 of the container assembly 10 in one embodiment comprise a flexible material. The upper member 12 and/or lower member 14 of the container assembly 10 in one embodiment comprise a durable material. The upper member 12 and/or lower member 14 of the container assembly 10 in one embodiment comprise a stain-resistant material. The upper member 12 and/or lower member 14 of the container assembly 10 in one embodiment comprise a material that is easy to clean, waterproof, and/or water-resistant. The upper member 12 and lower member 14 of the container assembly 10 in an embodiment are constructed of leather. However, such non-limiting materials as fabrics and textiles such as canvas and/or ripstop nylon, plastics such as polypropylene, elastomers, metals, woods, composites, and any combination thereof, form the upper member 12 and/or the lower member 14 in additional embodiments of the present disclosure.

Having shown and described particular embodiments of the disclosure, those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and modifications may be made to affect the described disclosure and still be within the scope of the claimed disclosure. Thus, many of the elements indicated above may be altered or replaced by different elements which will provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimed disclosure. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the disclosure only as indicated by the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A convertible container assembly, comprising: an upper member having a first plurality of attachment portions at an upper member perimeter; and a lower member being convertible such that the lower member is substantially planar in a first configuration and substantially parallelepipedous in a second configuration, the lower member including a second plurality of attachment portions at a lower member perimeter, wherein the first plurality of attachment portions at the upper member perimeter is configured to attach to the second plurality of attachment portions at the lower member perimeter.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower member includes a pad portion configured to support a user when the lower member is in the first configuration.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper member includes a first side having an object securing member configured to secure one or more objects.
 4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the upper member further includes a second side having a coupling member configured to couple the upper member to a surface to allow access to the first side.
 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the coupling member includes a magnetic coupling member configured to couple the upper member to a ferromagnetic surface.
 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower member includes a plurality of folding portions having a plurality of overlapping portions, each of the plurality of overlapping portions having at least one overlapping portion attachment member securing the plurality of overlapping portions against the plurality of folding portions such that an internal cavity is defined by the plurality of folding portions when the lower member is in the second configuration.
 7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of attachment portions forms a substantially continuous first attachment line around substantially the entire upper member perimeter, and the second plurality of attachment portions forms a substantially continuous second attachment line to attach to the first attachment line when the lower member is in the second configuration.
 8. A convertible container assembly, comprising: a holder member having a first side configured to secure one or more objects and a second side having a coupling member configured to couple the holder member to a surface to allow access to the first side; and a pad member being substantially planar and having a plurality of folding portions, wherein the holder member is configured to attach to the pad member to form a substantially parallelepipedous shape upon folding of the folding portions.
 9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the holder member includes a first plurality of attachment portions at a holder member perimeter.
 10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the pad member includes a second plurality of attachment portions at a pad member perimeter when the pad member forms a substantially parallelepipedous shape upon folding of the folding portions, wherein the first plurality of attachment portions at the holder member perimeter is configured to attach to the second plurality of attachment portions at the pad member perimeter when the pad member forms a substantially parallelepipedous shape upon folding of the folding portions.
 11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the first plurality of attachment portions forms a substantially continuous first attachment line around substantially the entire holder member perimeter, and the second plurality of attachment portions forms a substantially continuous second attachment line to attach to the first attachment line when the pad member forms a substantially parallelepipedous shape upon folding of the folding portions.
 12. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the coupling member includes a magnetic coupling member configured to couple the holder member to a ferromagnetic surface.
 13. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the plurality of folding portions includes a plurality of overlapping portions, each of the plurality of overlapping portions having at least one overlapping portion attachment member securing the plurality of overlapping portions against the plurality of folding portions such that an internal cavity is defined by the plurality of folding portions when the pad member forms the substantially parallelepipedous shape upon folding of the folding portions.
 14. A convertible container assembly, comprising: an upper member having a first plurality of attachment portions at an upper member perimeter; and a lower member including a substantially planar central portion and a plurality of outer portions disposed around the central portion, wherein the lower member is convertible from a first configuration whereby the central portion and the plurality of outer portions are both substantially planar to a second configuration whereby the central portion remains substantially planar and the plurality of outer portions are substantially orthogonal to the central portion to define a lower member internal cavity, the plurality of outer portions further including a second plurality of attachment portions, wherein the first plurality of attachment portions at the upper member perimeter is configured to attach to the second plurality of attachment portions at the plurality of outer portions.
 15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the lower member includes a pad portion configured to support a user when the lower member is in the first configuration.
 16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein a first side of the upper member includes an object securing member configured to secure one or more objects.
 17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein a second side of the upper member includes a coupling member configured to couple the upper member to a surface to allow access to the first side.
 18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the coupling member includes a magnetic coupling member configured to couple the upper member to a ferromagnetic surface.
 19. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the lower member includes a plurality of folding portions having a plurality of overlapping portions, each of the plurality of overlapping portions having at least one overlapping portion attachment member securing the plurality of overlapping portions against the plurality of folding portions to define the lower member internal cavity.
 20. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the first plurality of attachment portions forms a substantially continuous first attachment line around substantially the entire upper member perimeter, and the second plurality of attachment portions forms a substantially continuous second attachment line to attach to the first attachment line when the lower member is in the second configuration. 